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Cannibal Kings by Luke Jermay

Created by: Luke Jermay

Cannibal Kings is a theatrical and humorous close-up card trick where the Kings of the deck are portrayed as ravenous cannibals, devouring other cards one by one. The performer uses exaggerated expressions and vocal delivery to enhance the comedic absurdity of the narrative. The trick involves a playful yet darkly comedic storyline where shuffling two Kings to the top or bottom of the deck unleashes a wave of fear and consumption upon the rest of the cards. The visual representation of the Kings' consumption, including mimicking their growing size and subsequent burps, adds to the entertainment value. The trick concludes with a warning about the dangers of leaving the Kings unattended in a deck, suggesting they will completely destroy it.

Key features

  • Highly theatrical and humorous routine

  • Exaggerated expressions and vocal delivery enhance the performance

  • Visual representation of the Kings' consumption adds to the comedic effect

  • Playful narrative about the Kings being cannibals

  • Warning about the dangers of leaving the Kings unattended in a deck

Pros

  • Entertaining and memorable performance

  • Engages the audience with a unique narrative

  • Combines humor with magic for a lighthearted experience

Cons

  • May not appeal to those who prefer traditional, serious magic tricks

  • Requires a certain level of theatrical performance skills

Effect

The Cannibal Kings is a theatrical card routine where the Kings of the deck are portrayed as ravenous cannibals that devour other cards. The performer builds a humorous and absurd narrative, describing the Kings as violent figures armed with swords and an axe. As the routine progresses, the Kings "eat" other cards, making them vanish one by one. The climax often involves revealing the undigested remains of the consumed cards inside the Kings, reinforcing the illusion of their insatiable hunger. The effect is both visually engaging and comedic, making it a memorable performance piece.

Full Details

The Cannibal Kings routine is rooted in classic card magic but elevated by its storytelling and comedic presentation. The method involves clever card controls and vanishes, but the real strength lies in the performer's ability to sell the absurd premise. The routine can be adapted to different styles—some magicians emphasize the horror-comedy aspect, while others focus on the impossibility of the vanishes.

Ali Cook describes it as a trick he constantly revisits, experimenting with new methods and presentations. He appreciates its challenge and the way it allows for creative variations. Meanwhile, Luke Jermay’s version leans heavily into theatricality, using exaggerated expressions and vocal delivery to enhance the absurdity.

Who Should Consider the Trick

This routine is ideal for magicians who enjoy storytelling and character-driven performances. It works well in:

  • Comedy magic acts – The absurd premise naturally lends itself to humor.
  • Close-up or parlor settings – The visual vanishes and reveals play strongly in intimate environments.
  • Magicians looking for a non-traditional card routine – It’s a refreshing departure from standard card tricks.

Those who prefer straightforward, method-focused magic may find the theatrical elements challenging, but performers who embrace narrative will find it highly rewarding.

Information on How Difficult It Is to Perform

The Cannibal Kings requires:

  • Intermediate card handling – Some versions involve advanced sleights, but simpler handlings exist.
  • Strong storytelling skills – The routine’s success hinges on the performer’s ability to sell the absurd premise.
  • Timing and pacing – The comedic beats must be well-timed for maximum impact.

Ali Cook mentions that while the trick is complex, learning it improves overall card magic skills. Luke Jermay’s version emphasizes performance over technical difficulty, making it accessible to those with solid foundational card work.

What Magicians Say

  • Ali Cook describes it as a trick he constantly revisits, saying: "I keep playing around with it... it just brings me joy trying to come up with new methods for it." He appreciates its challenge and the way it allows for creative variations.
  • Luke Jermay’s version (as performed in the Vanishing Inc video) leans heavily into theatricality, with exaggerated expressions and vocal delivery enhancing the absurdity. The performer notes: "These Kings are actually cannibals—they eat other cards!"

Both versions highlight the routine’s flexibility—it can be a serious piece of deception or a full-blown comedy act, depending on the performer’s style.

The Cannibal Kings is a standout routine for magicians who want to combine strong magic with engaging storytelling. Whether performed as a dark comedy or a baffling card mystery, it offers a unique experience for audiences and performers alike.

What people are saying about Cannibal Kings

AlakazamMagicUK says...

I think the huge lesson from the chicken and duck transposition head transposition trick is it was the first time in Magic that I realized that you don't have to fool an audience in order to entertain them everyone kind of knows what's going on they don't fully know but it was the first time that I realized that the most important thing is the plot of the trick because everyone loves the ridiculous idea everyone's already entertained.

VanishingIncMagic says...

The performer presents a playful, almost absurd narrative where the Kings of the deck are ravenous cannibals, devouring other cards one by one. The core of the routine revolves around the premise that shuffling two Kings to the top or bottom of the deck is a disastrous event, unleashing a wave of fear and consumption upon the rest of the cards.

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